Arqiva, the UK’s largest independent towers company and communications infrastructure group, has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the UK armed forces community by re-signing the Ministry of Defence (MoD) Armed Forces Covenant.

The covenant is a voluntary pledge signed by businesses and charitable organisations who wish to demonstrate their support for the over 20,000 skilled and experienced individuals who leave the armed forces ready to enter the civilian workforce every year.

Many will face challenges in their transition from military service to civilian life however, particularly in the job market, where they may lack a comparable employment history and qualification record.

Arqiva first signed up to the covenant in June 2014 but has been developing its support for those leaving the armed forces for many years. The company holds ‘Industry Insight Days’ where attendees can find out more about Arqiva, talk with employees working in specific roles and hear about current job opportunities that are available. Individuals who attend insight days are also given the chance to shadow an Arqiva employee.

Arqiva has also taken steps to ensure it truly understands the key attributes of an armed forces skillset and how they can be applied to civilian workplaces.

In recognition of its ongoing efforts to adhere to the values of the covenant, in July 2016 Arqiva was presented with a Silver Award by the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme.

The covenant was jointly signed by Simon Beresford-Wylie, Arqiva CEO and Major General Tyrone R Urch CBE, General Officer Commanding Force Troops Command, at a ceremony held at Arqiva’s head office in Crawley Court, Winchester on Thursday, 20 October, 2016.

Simon Beresford-Wylie, CEO, Arqiva, said:

“Arqiva is responsible for delivering millions of connections that are vital for people’s everyday lives, whether it is television and radio broadcasts or mobile coverage. Our towers and other infrastructure help provide those connections, but so does having the right people on board and together they are critical to our ongoing success.

“Armed forces personnel have a number of unique skills and traits developed during their military career, but very often the difficulty is in them identifying where those attributes are best put to use in a business environment. Arqiva has long understood these challenges and has created a culture of hiring ex-service personnel as a result.

“Signing the Armed Forces Covenant in 2014 was a formal recognition of that culture and I am delighted to extend our commitment to the forces community by re-signing for 2017 and beyond.”

“Military competencies and qualifications often use terminology that is unfamiliar to many outside of the Armed Forces; this can result in a lost opportunity for both employer and employee.

“It is therefore important to get businesses and ex-military personnel together as often as we can to ensure their potential can be realised. Activities like those undertaken by Arqiva can make a real difference to a transition from the Armed Forces to civilian life; I am delighted to see us reaffirm our commitment here today at this Covenant signing.”